Ken Tekiela was a celebrated Chicago firefighter and a loving father of two who led a secret double life as a hitman for the Chicago mafia. Is it even possible to keep a life of crime hidden from your wife and kids for two decades? Yes, it is. I know because Ken is my father. In 2013, after a lifetime of deception, he broke down and told me everything, and our whole world changed…
CROOK COUNTY is the shocking true-crime podcast about my father's rise through the ranks of the legendary organized crime syndicate, the Chicago Outfit. From whorehouse doorman at the age of 17, to ruthless assassin in his 20's, and the many years that followed covering up crimes for the mafia and crooked cops alike while working as a firefighter/paramedic for the Chicago Fire Department. To finally, moving to the suburbs with his new wife and kids and trying desperately to put it all behind him, until it all came crashing down. We explore in great depth and detail my father’s life of crime and its profound and lasting impact on my family to this very day.
From Tenderfoot TV and iHeartPodcasts, I’m Kyle Tekiela, welcome to CROOK COUNTY.
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Kenny “The Kid” is facing the most difficult challenge of his life. After years of battling extreme PTSD and mental instability, Ken is now homeless and has been in and out of hospitals for the past year. I have done everything I can to support him—helping with rent, buying his car, paying for utilities, and assisting with his hospital stays—but the challenges have become overwhelming and I'm afraid of what might happen if I can't continue supporting him. Recently, his car was impounded, leaving him without transportation and making it even harder for him to access the care and resources he needs. Right now, I am doing everything I can to get his car out of impound but there's so much more to do. Any new donations will go directly toward supporting Ken’s basic living expenses, such as food, clothes, and shelter. These essentials will give him the stability he desperately needs to focus on his mental health and recovery. Since we released the show, I’ve had thousands of interactions with people who've been touched by Ken’s story. Now, I am humbly reaching out to this impassioned podcast community and beyond, asking for your support. Every donation, no matter the size, will help Ken continue on his journey of recovery and healing from the traumas that haunt him daily. Thank you so much and take care of each other. gofundme.com/crookcountySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Inside the Investigation with Payne Lindsey, Dennis Cooper, and Kyle Tekiela (00:23:26)
Have you ever wondered what happens off mic in an investigative podcast? Join Payne Lindsey (Up and Vanished), Dennis Cooper (Culpable), and Kyle Tekiela (Crook County) for a candid look inside making a hit series. Hear personal reflections about honest storytelling, lifelong bonds to the cases you cover, and maintaining curiosity despite external pressures. Hear raw, insider takes on the un-aired side of podcasting. Recorded live from the Tenderfoot TV stage at CrimeCon 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Unanswered Questions (00:39:46)
Get ready for a thrilling Crook County bonus episode! Kyle dives into the voicemails you, our passionate fans, have sent in, tackling your burning questions and sharing raw, unfiltered reactions to the show’s wild ride. Plus, Kyle unearths exclusive, never-before-heard interview clips with Ken that will leave you speechless! From shocking revelations to untold stories, this episode is packed with surprises that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. Don’t miss this special dive into the heart of Crook County! To leave Kyle a Voicemail go to Speakpipe.com/CrookCountyPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Inside Crook County: Behind the Mic with Kyle Tekiela (00:43:43)
Your backstage pass to Crook County. In this candid interview, host & producer Kyle Tekiela shares some honest details that were too raw for the show, and talks music, family, burnout, and the making of the podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
8 | The Rear View Mirror (00:29:50)
Ken's new civilian life has a fiery collision with the underworld resulting in death and destruction. A life full of secrets takes its toll on the family.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
7 | The Devil Won't Leave Me Alone (00:30:58)
Like the old saying goes, “Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in!”, Ken achieves his goal of becoming a firefighter and paramedic and negotiates his way out of the outfit, but he soon realizes that life as a civilian isn’t as clean as he hoped it would be. Ken and Holly restart their relationship and settle down in the quiet suburbs to try and start a new life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
6 | Fire In The Sky (00:32:18)
Kenny witnesses American Airlines Flight 191 crashing out of O’Hare Airport killing everyone on board and reveals a newfound purpose. Things take a dark turn when a girl disappears and Ken takes matters into his own hands. The Turf Wars rage in the streets of Chicago.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
5 | Bully (00:39:20)
We meet a new mafia boss who gives Ken orders for his first hit. Ken's twin brother Rich shares stories of their troubled youth. Ken discovers a new hobby that helps him cope with his demons.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
4 | Keeper Of A House Of Prostitution (00:31:18)
Ken settles into his new life in The Outfit. We meet the working girls and some more mafia goons, and learn the ins and outs of how a house of prostitution is run. A robbery at the club puts Kenny in The Outfit’s crosshairs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
3 | Coming Clean (00:33:29)
Ken walks us through his current day-to-day as he attempts to atone for his life of crime. Then we dive back into the past to his first years inside the mob -- dealing drugs and helping with collections. We meet to a few key mafia characters like “Old Man” Genarro, the Chop Shop King. Kenny gets his first big promotion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2 | The Ties That Bind Us (00:37:12)
With the help of some old home videos, Kyle embarks on a journey to the past to uncover the family secret and try to pick up the pieces of a broken home. Kyle's mom, Holly, tells the harrowing story of an idyllic family destined to fall apart, and the exact moment where everything changed. Kyle's brother, Kory, reveals the violent relationship he had with Ken.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 | Give Me Your F**kin Money (00:24:53)
Meet Kenny “The Kid”, a Chicago mafia soldier and hitman for nearly 25 years. After hearing a brutal firsthand account of a mafia hit, we learn how and why Kenny was recruited as 17 year old kid, explore the history of the legendary Chicago Outfit, and reveal a devastating truth that reverberates to this very day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Meet Ken (00:01:01)
For over 20 years he was a celebrated firefighter, living a secret double life as a hitman for the Chicago mob. Who is Ken Tekiela? He's my father, and I didn't know any of this until now. Crook County premieres February 11th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome to Crook County (Official Trailer) (00:02:28)
Welcome to Crook County, a den of thieves, where a celebrated firefighter, husband and loving father led a secret double life as a hitman for the legendary organized crime syndicate, the Chicago Outfit. A secret that shattered his family. From Tenderfoot TV and iHeart Podcasts, Crook County is coming February 11th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
